Improvement in pyrotechnic signal-cartridges



J. .T. DETWILLER. PYROTECHNIC SIGNAL-CARTRIDGES 191,843.

Patented Ju ne 12, 1877.-

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-PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAFHER4 WASHINGTON D C areformed.

Unrrnn STATES JACOB J. DETWILLER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PYROTECHNIC SIGNAL-CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 191,843, dated June 12, 1877 application filed February 26, 1877. 1

Fig. 4 represents the code adapted to the signal.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to night-signals for army, navy, railroad, and other purposes; and it consists, mainly, in a cartridge having the usual percussion-primipg, and containing a propelling-charge of gunpowder, a perforated wad, and a cylinder or ball of highlycombustible composition, capable of giving out a red or white light when burned, and a closing wad, which completes the cartridge. It also consists in forming, on the percussion end of the cartridge, one or more projections, by which the color of the cartridge may [be determined in the dark.

My invention further consists in a, code to be used, in connection with the cartridges, by

which two colors are made to representnumorals. v The object of my invention is to provide a convenient and effective signal of small di' mensions, that may be readily carried about, and rapidly fired from a breech-loading pistol or gun, so that the operator may, by the simplest means, produce the desired signal.

Referring to the drawing, A is an ordinary paper cartridge-shell, having the flanged metallioend B, in-which is placed an ordinary percussion-priming, a, and upon the surface ofwhich one or two slight projections, bb, A charge, 0, of gunpowder is placed in contact with the percussion-priming a, and upon it there is a centrally-perforated wad, 0, above which a cylinder, D, of highly-combustible composition is placed, and secured by a wad, d, which is fastened in the end of the cartridge-shell by a water-proofcement.

The cylinder D is made of such materials as The wad d that is placed in the end of the cartridge-shell and cemented'with water-proof cenfent is painted to represent the color produced by the combustion of the cylinder contained by the cartridge.

By means of the projections b 12, formed on the percussion end of the cartridge, the color of the charge may be determined in the dark. In the present case one projection indicates a white light, and two a red light.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the signal-code, in

which one white signifies 1, two whites 2,, three whites 3, one white and one red 4, and.

so on, as represented in the drawing, W representing white, and R red.

Having thus described myinvention,I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The pyrotechnic signal herein described, consisting of a combustible material formed into a single mass or star capable of emitting one colored stream of light when propelled by an explosive charge of gunpowder, in connection with a primed and charged cartridgeshell adapted for use in an ordinary fire-arm, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein-described endless fuse for pyrotechnic stars or signal-balls, consisting of a thin cotton wick saturated with a combustible fluid or varnish and wound continuously around the signal-ball, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The cartridge-shell having projections formed on the end to indicate the color of the signal at night, as herein set forth.

JACOB J. DETWILLER.

Witnesses Gno. M. HOPKINS, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

PATENT Orrrcn. 

